Filing-cabinet.



Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

H. A. WARDY.

FILING CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1914.

I I I. I I I I III I! I IIIIIIII COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. C.

H. A. WARDY.

FILING CABINET.

APPHCATION FILED MAR. 18. 1914.

Pafented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- lllIllllllIllllgllllllllllllllllluulnulmn .765 6Z 7{6E2% CE 7 7 Wig 2 I COLUMBIA PMNLDUBAPM COqWKSHINGTON. D. C.

HARRY A. WAnnY, or KALAMAZOQjI/IICHIGAN.

FILING-CABINET.

masses,

WARDY, a

will enable those skilled in the art to understand the same.

This invention relates to improvements in filing cabinets.

lnmy application Serial Number 650,936, filed September 9 23, 1911, I illustrated, de scribed and claimed certain improvements in filing cabinets whereby folders or cards filed in the cabinet could be mechanically selected andwithdrawn in classes; in another application, Serial Number 791,253, filed September 22, 1913, I illustrated, described and claimed an improvement comprising mechanical means for readily and accurately adjusting the device for selecting and withdrawing the folders or cards.

lvly present invention is a continuation or a carrying forward of the original broad conception, and includes an improved embodiment of mechanism for positioning the selecting device, with various other novel and advantageous features and improvements which willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art, from the disclosure hereinafter set forth.

In the drawingsin whichI have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my improvements aforesaid-Figure l is a plan view of the cabinet showing one of the sides thereof in dropped orhorizontal position. F 2 is a transverse sectional view'of the cabinet in the same adjustment as is illustratcd in Fig.1. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the sides of thecabinet in which my present improvements have been embodied. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional viev-r illustrating the details of construction and the manner of engaging the selecting device with the'engaging means carried by the folder or card. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 6 is a horizontal section substantially on the liheG-G ofFig. 3, and Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3. i V

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings A indicates a cabinet or case which comprises end walls1,'a bottom wall 2, and side walls 3, each of the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 18, 1914.

residing at the I Patented July 313, 1915.. Serial No; 825,636.

sidewalls having hinged connection with the bottom wall 2. The side walls are preferably of sheet metal whose lower edges embrace rods 4, whereby the sides are pivot ally supported, and upon which the sides may be moved from vertical to horizontal positions. In. order to limit the outward and downward movement of the side walls 3 and to support them in horizontal position I provide arcuate supportinglinks 5 having their outer ends attached to said walls adjacent to each end thereof. The links 5 are arrangedto slide inguides 6 secured near the side edges of the front and rear walls. At the angle of the side and bottom walls I preferably secure a' longitudinal guide strip 7, which isadapted to maintain the foldersor cards placed in the cabinet in longitudinal alinement, so that their outer edges lie in the same vertical planes. Itis contemplated that the folders or cards shall be arranged in the cabinet, one behind the other, in any predetermined order, and

that said folders or cards be selected and withdrawn in predetermined selected classes, such, for instance, as by date or subject.

In the embodiment of the invention illustratedl have shown folders B provided with a calendarial index at each side there-.

of, the dates from 1 to 16, inclusive, paired near one vertical edge and the for the rema nder of the being dates month being paired near the opposite vertical edge, on the front face of the folder. lVhen the folders are arranged in the case in any predetermined order, such, for instance, as in alphabetical arrangement, and it is desired to withdraw certain of said folders, in a predetermined class, the hooks or clips 8 are adjusted upon the side edges of. the'folders so that the selected index characterrepresenting the class in which the folders are to be withdrawn will center in the aperture in the body of the hooks, as clearly'appears in Fig. i ofthe drawing. Since all of the folders or cards are provided with uniformly positioned index characters, when i the folders are placed in the cabinet all of the index hooks jor clips in a given class or serieswill be in horizontal alinement. All of the horizontally alined hooks of each series are thus in a position to be engaged by the horizontal selecting rod' adjusted for such predetermined class in the manner herein described.

'Each of thehinged sides of the cabinet is equipped with a device for selectively engaging the hooks and withdrawing the selected cards or folders; and,-since the selecting devices at opposite sides of the cabinet are duplicates, it is necessary only to describe one of them. The rock-shaft or rod 9 is journaled in two bearings 10 which are longitudinally movable on said rod or shaft, and pivotally supported on the upper ends of two levers 11. The lower ends of the levers 11 are adjacently supported upon pivots 12 near the lower edge of the side wall with which said levers coeperate. Thus,by

manipulation of the levers 11 the rock-shaft or rod 9 may be raised or lowered, the bearings 10 sliding on the said rod or shaft. The levers 11 areconne'cted to a controlling member 13 by links let whose lower ends are pivoted to said levers, respectively, and whose upper ends are pivoted to said member 13. The member 13 is movable vertically, and is guided in a vertical slot 15 in the side wall. Laterally extended portions 16 of the member 13 engage against the outer face of the side wall, and assist in retaining the parts in accurate adjustment. 17 has one end pivoted to the outer side of the wall at 18, and is provided with a longitudinal slot 19 which receives a headed projection 20. The free end of the lever 17 is manually engageable, so that said lever is operative to raise and lower the member 13, and thereby the rock shaft or rod 9. Each end of the shaft or rod 9 supports an arm 21, and said arms are connected to and support a bail-rod 22, so that when said shaft or rod 9 is rocked the bail 22 will be moved. By moving the free end of the lever 17 vertically the member 13 may be moved vertically to any desired position; and, since the member 13 controls the levers 11, said'levers 11 will be operated by said member 13. The bearings 10 will thus be moved toward each other or away from each other, and the rod or shaft 9 will be lowered or raised by said bearings. The lever. 17 is preferably provided with a projection 23 adapted to engage in equally spaced openings or indentations 2 1 in the exterior surface of the side wall of the cabinet in order to hold said lever in any of the adjustments in which it may be placed. Thus, by manipulation of the lever 17 the rod or shaft 9 may be moved verti-' cally to any desired adjustment and may be latched in any of its several adjustments.

An index support 25 is supported by the rod or shaft 9 near each end of the rod or shaft 9. The said index supports are movable with the rod or shaft 9, and are guided in their vertical movements by slots 26 in the side wall of the cabinet, so that when the rod or shaft 9 is moved vertically by manipulation of the lever 17, the index supports are moved therewith. The index supports include flanges 27 engaging against the inner A lever surface of the side wall, and they also include flanges 28 engaging against the outer surface of the support from turning with the rod or shaft when said rod or shaft is rocked'as hereinafter described. Pointers 29 are supported by the index supports on the outer side of the cabinet wall and register opposite the date or selecting scales 30 formed or afiixed upon the outer surface of the cabinet wall, so that it may be definitely knownby the operator with which of the hooks 8 the selecting device is positioned to engage. Thus, assuming that the selecting device'at one side of the cabinet is positioned to engage with the uppermost hooks 8, the pointer 29 will be positioned opposite the index characters 17-18 at that side of thecabinet as illustrated in Fig. 3. Or the selecting device may be moved downwardly by manipulation of the lever 17 inposition to engage with another series of hooks 8, as illustrated sidewall to prevent the index in Fig. 5; so that the selecting device may be j moved to any position to engage with any series of hooks 8, at the will of the operator.

It is desirable that the bail rod 22 be retained in the same vertical plane with the rock shaft or rod 9, so that said bail may be moved vertically to any desired adjustment without interfering with any of the projecting hooks 8. Preferably the rod 22 is retained below the rod or shaft 9 as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig; 2, and such adjustment may be maintained by a spring encircling the rod or shaft 9 and havmg one end connected with the index support 25 and the opposite end connected with one of the arms 21. When the rod or shaft 9 is moved to the desired adjustment it is necessary that the bail rod 22 be moved into engagement with the adjacent series of hooks 8, and for moving the said rod 22 into engagement with the adjacent series of the hooks 8, I provide a key or lever 32. The said key or lever 32 is attached to the rod or shaft 9 and is accessible from the exterior of the side wall, so that by depressing the said key or lever the shaft 9 will be rocked in its bearings and the rod 22 will be engaged with the corresponding series of hooks 1 8, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Preferably the key or lever 32 is provided withan extension 33, (Fig. 4), engaging with the rod 22, thereby forming a connection between the rod or shaft and the rod 22 intermediate of their ends in order to strengthen and prevent bending of the rod 22 as a result of its frequent use and operation. Thus, the rod or shaft 9 is capable of two movements; one of said movements being vertically by manipulation of the lever 17 asrequired to position said rod or shaft opposite theselected series of hooks 8; and the other operation is a rocking movement, effected by manipulation of the key or lever 32 in order to ,downward move hold the selectedand withdrawn cards or folders B.

From the foregoing it will be understood 7 that the selecting and Withdrawing bail 22 may be adjusted,

readily and accurately, in

series of hooks 8 carried by the folders or cards, and thatwhen broughtinto predetermined position, as indicatedxby the dialor indicating device on the exterior of the Cttbli net wall, the bail 22 can be conveniently raised into engagement'with. the hooks by manipulation of the key or lever '32 and the side of the cabinet droppedto thelimit of movement permitted by the links v guides 6, thereby withdrawing the selected class of folders or cards from the cabinet without disturbing the arrangement of-the remaining folders or cards contained therein.

I am aware that modifications in the structure within equivalent limitsmay be made without departing from the eralscope of the invention. ,1 do not limit myself, therefore, to exact details, but is lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p v

1. In a filing cabinet arranged to contain folders, the combination with a hinged wall, means for limitingthe outward movement of said wall and supporting the same in horizontal positioma selecting device adapt= ed to be adjusted at predetermined vertical 7 positionsslidably mounted upon the inner face of said wall,

cal connections for adjusting said selecting device, folders contained in said cabinet, engaging members adaptedto be adjusted at selected positions on said folders, and means for raising said selecting device to engage selected ones of said engaging members.

2., in a filing ,cabinet arrangedto contain folders,ithe combination with a hinged wall,

of engaging members adapted to be adjustselected ones of said engagmgmembers,

terior of said cabinet carried bysaid shaft whereby said rod may a position to engage any selectedihorizontal therein in predetermined, order,

5 and the;

spirit and gendevice supported means for maintaining SillCl selecting device 11'1 fiat ad ustment 7 against the inner faceof said wall, mechanispring for normally depressing in opposition'to said spring 3. In a filing cabinet arranged to contain l folders, thecombination of a hinged wall;

and engaging members adapted to be adjusted at selected positions on said folders; of a selecting device comprising a rock shaft, guides adapted to slide in slots formed in said all forpivotally supporting said rock shaft; and a" ail carried by said shaft; means for raising and lowering said rock shaft comprising slidable sleeves, amovable block operativelyconnectedwith said sleeves, and a leverv for v operating said block; and means accessible from the 8X:

for raising said rod be engaged withselected ones of said engaging members, substantially as specified. 4 In a filing cabinet th'e'combination witha plurality of folders adapted to be arranged a pivoted support constituting a wall of saidcabinet, engaging, members adapted to be selectively positioned on said folders, means carried by said support operable to engage selected'ones of said engaging members, means for preventing the accidental engagement of said meanswith said engaging members, and a mechanical device for selectively positioning siaid engaging means, substantially as specied. 7 5. In a filing cabinet arranged to contain cards and folders, a hinged Wall at one side of the cabinet, levers pivoted upon said wall, a rock shaft supported by said levers, an actuating lever for operating said levers effectively, to move said rock shaft vertically adjacent to said Wall, an engaging by said rock shaft, means for rocking said shaft effectively to move said engaging device into engagement with on said cards and folders, and

proie i ion add tional means for actuating said rock fro'infthe ,folders. j v j 6; A filing cabinet comprising a cabinet arranged to contain cards and folders, a pivoted wall closing one side of said cabinet, supports pivoted upon said walhbearings carried bysaid supports, a rock shaft or rod I journaled in said bearings, a lever for actuating said supports effectively to move said rock shaft vertically, an engaging device supportedby said rock shaft, means for rocking said shaft effectively to move said engaging device into engagement with projections on said cards and element for disengaging said device from the projections on said cards, and folders. v

71A filing cabinet comprising a cabinet arranged to contain cards and folders, a wall having its lower edge pivoted to said cabinet and constituting a closure for one side there. of; means cooperating with said pivot for supporting said wall in a substantially hori folders, and an said rock shaft, a lever shaft to engage said device with projections on'the cards and folders, anda'utomatic;

device from said in its vertical net, means for zontal position, ported ad acent to the inner side of said wall, a lever for moving SaIdTOCk shaft vertically, an engaging ClGVlCG supportedby for rocking said means for disengaging said projections when said wall is position.

8. A filing cabinet vided with lateral projections,--a wall -p'ivoted at one side of said cabinetand arranged to be moved from a vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, shaft or rod supported horizontally adjacent to the inner side of said wall, "abail supported by said rock shaft and operative to folders, meansholding said shaft or rod in position to support said bail out ofengagement with said pro ections, a lever attached to said rock shaft and operative to rock said shaft to engage said had with said projections, means for moving said shaft and a bail to position to engage projections in dif-' ferent horizontal planes,'and means for preventing accidental movement 'of, said shaft and bail. 1 I

9. In a filing cabinetarranged to contain cards and folders provided with lateral projections, a pivoted wall closing one side of said cabinet, anengaging' bail supported by said wall, means for moving said bail to various vertical ad ustments adjacent to said wall, means for preventing accidental misbail, automatic means holding said ball out of engagement with placement of said said projections, and manipulative means for engaging said bail with said projections.

10. In a filing cabinet arranged to contain cards and folders provided with lateral projections, a wall closing one sideiof said cabipivotally supporting said wall whereby said wall is enabled to be moved outwardly on its pivot, an engaging bail adjustably supported adjacent to the inner side ofsaid wall, a leveroperative to move said bail to various adjustments, means for latching said lever to prevent accidental movement of said bail, a spring holdingsaid bail out of engagement with said projections, a lever manipulative effectively to engage said bail with said projections, and indeXes indicating the position of the bail, substantially as specified.

11. In a filing cabinet arranged to contain cards and folders having lateral projections, a hinged wall closing oneside of said cabinet, an engaging device supported by said wall .for vertical adjustment, manual means for'movingsaid engaging device vertically" to position to engage projections on said cards and folders in any selected horizontal a rock; Shaft 61 rodsup; p

movement of said engaging dBVlCG, and

" j ections, substantially as '-net', and lateral pro comprising a I cabinet arranged to conta n cards and folderspro-f a rockvarious horizontal planes determined classifications,

, positioned to en plane, means "for preventing accidental means for operating said engaging device effectively to engage the same with said prospecified.

12. In a filing cabinet, the combination 1 with cards and foldersdeposited in the cabi- 7 ections on said cards and folders in various horizontal planes, of a hinged "wall closing one side of the cabinet adjacent to said projections, an engaging device supportedby said wall for vertical adjustment, means for moving said engagmg dev ceto any selected horizontal plane vini-positionto engage'with said pro ections in any selected horizontal plane, manipulative means for engaging said device with said pro ections, and automatic'means for disengaging said device from said projecengage said pro ections'on said cards and" tions.

with cards and folders deposited inthe cabinet, and lateral projections in connection with said cards and folders in various horizontal planes, of a wall hinged at the side of said cabinet adjacent to said projections provision upon said horizontal planes in which said projections are positioned, an engaging "device sup ported by said Wall for vertical adjustment, means for moving said engaging device vertically to any horizontal plane designated by said wall whereby said engaging device will be in position to engage with a selected number of said projections, manipulative means for engaging said engaging device with said projections after said device has 1 been positioned as aforesaid, and means limitingmoveinent of said hinged wall.

14. In av filing cabinet, the .combination with a plurality of cards and folders depos- ,ited'inja cabinet,and projections extending from the edges of said cards and folders in according to preof a wall hinged atthe side of'saidcabinet adjacent to said projections and being movable outwardly and downwardly, links limiting downward movement of said wall, an engaging device,

a rockable support adjustably supporting said engaging device upon said wall, means for moving said support and engaging deviceto position to engage any selected class of said projections, visible means indicating the class with which said engaging device is age, an automatic actuating device normally holding said engaging device disengaged from said projections, and means for moving said engaging device into engagement with said projections.

15. In a filing cabinet, the combination with series. of cards and folders deposited in the cabinet, and projections extending laterally from said cards and folders, of a device operable to engage with predetermined wall designating the the outer side of said wall ones of said projections, an actuator normally holding said "device out of engagement with said projections, means for positioning said device to said projections, means for preventing accidental movement of said'engaging device, a hand lever operable to engage said engaging device with said projections, and an indicator controlled by said engaging device designating what series of hooks said engaging device is positioned to engage; f

16. In a filing cabinet, a wall hingedat one side of said cabinet, levers pivoted to said wall, bearings pivoted to said levers, a rockable support j ournaled in said bearings, a vertically movable member for actuating said levers to move said rockable support vertically, a lever for moving said member vertically, a latching device for preventing accidental movement of said levers, and a bail carried by said rockable support, for the purpose set forth.

17. In a filing cabinet, a wall hinged at one side of said cabinet, a vertically movable support carried by said wall, means for moving said support vertically, a latching device preventing accidental movement of said support, an indicating device indicating the position of said support, an engaging device carried by said support, automatic means for actuating and yieldingly holding said engaging device in substantially the same vertical plane with said support, and means for manipulating said engaging device for the purpose specified.

18. In a filing cabinet, a hinged wall closing one side of said cabinet, a number of levers pivoted upon said hinged wall, a bearing supported by each of said levers, a rock shaft journaled in said bearings, a lever pivoted upon the opposite side of said wall from said first-named levers, devices actuated by said second-named lever for moving said first-named levers effectively to raise and lower said rock shaft, latching means for holding said levers against accidental movement, and an engaging device carried by said rock shaft for the 19. In a filing cabinet, the combination with a wall closing one side of said cabinet, and a support pivotally supporting said wall, of a rock shaft at the one side of said wall, levers pivoted to the inner side of said wall, bearings on said levers in which said rock shaft is journaled, a hand lever pivoted to the outer side of said wall, devices actuated by said hand lever for moving said first-named levers effectively to raise and to lower said rock shaft, an engaging device carried by said rock shaft, automatic means for holding said engaging device yieldingly in substantially the same vertical plane with said rock shaft, and a lever accessible from for controlling said engaging device.

engage any desired ones of,

"[ating lever for actuating said purpose specified.

ber of levers pivoted to the inner side of said wallybearings supported by said levers,

an; actuating lever pivoted to the outer side of said wall,means controlled by said actufirst-named levers effectively to raise and to lower said rock, shaft, means g preventing I accidental movement of said levers and said rock shaft,

anengaging device supported by said rock shaft, a lever for controlling said engaging device for the purpose specified, and means on the outer side of said wall indicating the position of said rock shaft and engaging device, substantially as specified.

21. In a filing cabinet, a wall hinged at one side of said cabinet, levers pivoted to said wall, bearings pivoted to said levers, a rockable support journaled in said bearings, a vertically movable member for actuating said levers to move said rockable support vertically, a lever for moving said member vertically, a pin-in-slot connection between said second-named lever and said member, a latching device for preventing accidental movement of said second-named lever, and a bail carried by said rockable support, substantially as described.

22. In a filing cabinet, the combination with cards and folders deposited in the cabinet, and lateral projections on said cards and folders, hinged wall closing one side of the cabinet adjacent to said projec tions, an engaging device supported by said wall, means holding said engaging device out of engagement with said projections, means for moving said engaging device into engagement with said projections, and means connecting said wall With stationary parts of the cabinet for supporting said wall in a substantially horizontal position.

23. In a filing cabinet, a cabinet arranged to contain cards and folders having lateral projections in various ho for supporting said wall in a horizontal position, an engaging device supported by said wall for ad ustment toward and from the hingeaxis, manual means for for supporting said Wall in a horizontal A to different positions with respect to said 10 a movable member carried by said shaft, substantiallyas described.

for supporting In Witness whereof, I have signed this f two subscribposition, WELll, a rock shaft, means v I said rock shaft, means controlled by said specification in the presence 0 movable member for movingsaid rock shaft ing Witnesses. toward and from the horizontaledgesgof HARRY A. WARDY. said Wall, a bail carried by said rock shaft I Witnesses: for the purpose set forth, and means for l p GEO. P. WIGoENToN,

actuating said rock shaft to move said bail I LAURAFRYOKHOLM.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

